The energy is real and the mission is urgent: celebrate outstanding students and give them the lift they deserve. We share a rapid-fire slate of updates you can act on today, from a free virtual Getting Through College workshop to early tickets for the HBCU Community and People’s Choice Awards. With a $23,000 goal fueling scholarships and programs, every table purchase, share, and shoutout turns into tangible support for young people building their futures.

We break down what matters most this season. The summer send-off is open for scholars, vendors, and organizations—with fees that are tax-deductible through our 501(c)(3) status—plus a special drawing for two gala tickets for the first 25 to register. We spotlight the Common Black College Application so students can apply to 50+ HBCUs with one form and a low fee, lowering barriers and expanding choice. We put a call out for three male authors and other educators to join our new book project, capturing the real stories and insights shaping classrooms right now.

Monique also opens up about finding peace through music—writing and arranging new tracks like Chosen and Ex-Best Friend—as a way to process a tough year while staying anchored to service. That creative honesty sits alongside scholar shoutouts, newsletter leaderboard updates, and clear timelines like the Takisha Davis Scholarship deadline on the 30th of next month. Join the workshop from wherever you are, buy tickets before capacity is reached, and keep the momentum visible by sharing the newsletter and tagging a student who needs this boost. If this mission moves you, subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who believes in HBCUs and the power of community. Your support helps a student feel seen today.

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Start with a simple challenge: name a Black history figure who isn’t on your usual list. From there, we open the door to a bigger story—how community, culture, and purpose shape a student’s path to college and a career that can save lives. We spotlight a senior with a 3.8 GPA who’s HBCU-bound, narrowing choices to three schools and setting her heart on Houston Tillotson University. She wants to become a certified nurse midwife, and she’s clear about why: Black mothers deserve to be heard, respected, and protected in the moments that matter most.

We talk through the real factors behind her decision—cost, distance, family support, and belonging—and why an HBCU environment offers the mentorship and cultural affirmation that can carry a student from first-year nerves to confident clinical practice. Her purpose is personal, sparked by a family health scare that illuminated the gaps too many women face. She’s ready to meet those gaps with evidence-based care and a voice that advocates early and often. Along the way, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and share a listener challenge to go beyond the “famous five,” lifting up icons like Sam Cooke and the countless builders whose names don’t always make the headlines.

Community power drives this episode. We highlight active campaigns—People’s Choice voting, Icons fundraising that splits proceeds between A Better Chance For Youth Futures and selected colleges, and scholarship drives that open doors for students who are doing the work. Our senior is already mobilizing her network with posters and shares, and we invite alumni—especially from Houston Tillotson—to step in with support, mentorship, and resources. If you care about education access, maternal health, and the future of equitable care, this is your moment to help a worthy scholar cross the next bridge.

Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves HBCUs or healthcare, and leave a review to boost our mission. Your vote and your gift can turn one student’s plan into community impact.

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We’re suiting up in Royal Kente & Gold and rallying the community to fund scholarships for students heading to HBCUs—and then Wayne Bradley rolls in with theme music and a masterclass on turning opportunity into impact. 🎶📸

Wayne shares how a camera, a handshake, and a bold yes at Grambling State University opened doors to campus media, AmeriCorps, and a career that later pivoted into snack distribution—where every box can power a scholarship. From finding gatekeepers and flipping “no” to “yes,” to building a fundraising engine that fits real life, this convo breaks it all down.

He also lays out a powerful pledge—splitting proceeds among A Better Chance for Youth Futures, Inc., Grambling State, a student who lost a parent, and a memorial scholarship honoring an Omega legend—turning friendly rivalry into measurable support. Along the way, we trade classic HBCU stories (Bayou Classic vibes, Spectrum News moments) and brainstorm flavor collabs that bring jambalaya spirit and plant-based options to the snack aisle. 🔥

This episode is part celebration, part playbook—with direct donation links, newsletter access, and a clear path for any team, chapter, or classroom to join the distribution network and raise funds. Culture meets commerce in the best way: every share, every box, every pledge lighting the path for the next scholar to thrive.

🎯 Ready to help us hit our $45,000 goal and crown our HBCU Icon Laureate?
Tap the link, donate to your favorite icon’s page, and share this episode with someone who loves HBCU pride as much as you do. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us which flavor your chapter wants next!

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